The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-10-01

That Coward" But though the body
of his parent lay within his reach, her
spirit had fed not an hour before. The
poor woman had bravely borne up
against the ill-repute other son and the
neglect of her former friends. but hard
work and the quiet inward suffering of
wounded pride had worn her out at
last, and at the Last only had she
seemed to fully understand how and
why her son had acted as he did. and
with her parting breath she blessed him
and told him time would make things
all right.
As the stalwart youth sat there,
wondering in his misery, to whom he
could apply for help, he heard the
tramp of horses on the road. He heard
them halt There was = shout
Hello there! House,"
Motioning the old negro woman,
their only servant for years. to go out
and see what was required he resumed
his moody silence and posture.
How long the woman had gone he
did not note, but she returned erect,
with the fire of wrath in her eyes.
"Ha! Massar Dug'l! Dat'er stuck up
Miss Jinnie'll sing fodder slider mouf
fore long Ireckons. Dem dars Yankees.
an deys goin' ter cotch dat reb Ain
vote come sulkin' back yer. Dey didn't
jist know de road, but l dun tell dem
de way, shu!''
Then Dugal rose with his face white
with his rage; that woman had never
been nearer death than that moment
you murderessr' he Kissed and
sprang for her. But he restrained
himself as she covered before him.
LET the dead bury the dead" he
muttered.
He gave her some directions as to
going for the one person on whom he
could depend, in case he did not return.
for paying the last service to that cold
clay that he left; then went and kissed
the lips Of his dead mother and strobe
out into the darkness.
Swift as dear, quiet as a panther,
he made his way to the Dean
house by paths that would be in
accessible to cavalry. II Allen
were there, his plans were already
made. The friend of his youth must
be in hiding. and Dugal knew the old
HOMESTEAD SO thoroughly that he was
certain where to lind him. He reached
the back Of the house Just rs the troop
drew up before it Quickly he climbed
on the roof Of the -s'lean-to," and
quietly he entered the little apartment.
A few rays of the moon showed him q
gaunt form stretched out upon hastily
made bed on the floor. He knelt down
and put his hand upon the figure. In
an instant the man rose up, tried to
grapple with him, then fell back with .
groan.
'Allen. man! Allen, dear! It's me,
Dugal. Do nothing, say nothing. They
shall not take you"
There was q noise at the door, the
scream of an elder and the Wild protest.
ations Of a younger woman were min
gled with the gruff, firm voice of a man.
''We'll search the house. miss, and if
he amt here there's no harm done, but
search it we must and will"
Dugal was busy all this time, and as
Jennie with her frail body was trying
to bar the entrance OF the officer and
his men. behind her appeared q figure
in butternut, ragged attempt at uni
form.
Don't harm my mother and sister, l
viii 60 with you." said the new arrival.
Jennie gave one glance and sank
Benseless upon the floor; the old mother
was long since blind and speeches.
from fright.
Gladly the troops secured their pris-
oner and hurried away from such . |
scene.
1t was early morning when they |
the headquarters of the COM
mand. The Colonel was q man who |
had suffered much; he believed in war
If retaliation He neither asked nor
gave quarter.
The prisoner was brought before him. |
"Who are you?"
"Allen Dean"
"What regimcntf'
tenth Alabama"
"What are y~u doing in our linesp''
ION . scout.
"Shoot him at noon." was the quiet
put stern order given to tho Lieuten-
int, and the doomed man was marched
lway.
Noon came; there was not time for
much prayer or question, and the UNI
ortunate had made no sign.
The firing detail had been made,
roops were ranged about, the prisoner
vas brought from thu fant uead a. = l